India has sent more students to the US for higher studies than any other country in the world for the academic year of 2023-2024. Earlier, it was China that used to send maximum number of students to America year after year for study purposes.
It’s after 15 years that India replaced China from the number one position in sending students to the US. India saw a 23% increase in the number of college students going to America for higher education. This amounted to 3.3 lakh students, according to a report.
China saw a 4% dip in the number of students it sent to the US universities. The last time India topped this list was in 2009.
India and China are the two countries that end up sending half of the international students to the US.
These students study STEM courses such as computer science, engineering, and mathematics.
“This year marks a record high for international students in the United States,” Allan Goodman, CEO of the Institute of International Education, was quoted as saying.
“International students enrich our campuses, foster cultural exchange, and contribute significantly to our economy, and we remain dedicated to supporting these bright minds and ensuring that the US continues to be a premier destination for global education,” he added.
In the US, the most notable growth in international students has been seen in graduate programs, with a 19% increase.
Several practical training courses have even seen a 41% increase.
But the number of international students coming to the US is a record 1.12 million, according to the Institute of International Education.
The number of students has especially increased manifold after the pandemic.
Indian students have also contributed immensely to the US economy, with a 7% increase in international students each year.
The report quoting the US Department of Commerce said foreign students have contributed $50 billion to the US economy in 2023, especially in fees and living expenses.
However, the US is not the only country to see a record-high number of Indian students as the UK has also witnessed an increasing number of Indians joining its colleges and universities.
This was an increase of 39% with over 1.7 lakh students, crossing China’s numbers again.
Notably, it is not just that Indians are going to study abroad, even American students go to different countries for studies.
Over 280,000 US students left their country to study in 2022-2023, a 49% increase in the last academic year.
“Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France remained the leading host destinations, with nearly half (45%) of all students studying in these top four destinations,” the report said.